Optical and electrical interconnect

ABSTRACT

An interconnect comprising an anisotropic conductive film and an optically transmissive unit embedded in the anisotropic conductive film. The optically transmissive unit provides an optically transmissive path through the anisotropic conductive film. In an alternative embodiment, an electronic package comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, and an interconnect located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The interconnect comprises an anisotropic conductive film for electrically coupling a first conductive element formed on the first substrate to a second conductive element formed on the second substrate and one or more optically transmissive units embedded in the anisotropic conductive film. At least one of the one or more optically transmissive units couples an optical signal path on the first substrate to an optical receiver on the second substrate.

FIELD

The present invention is related to connecting signals betweensubstrates in an electronic package and, more particularly, tointerconnects used in connecting electronic and optical signals betweensubstrates in an electronic package.

BACKGROUND

Electrical interconnects are conductive structures that carry signalsand information in modem electronic systems, such as computers, cellulartelephones, and personal digital assistants. Substrates, including diceand packaging substrates, are the building blocks of modem electronicsystems. Dice are electronic components made up of diodes, transistors,resistors, capacitors, and inductors that perform the electronicfunctions required in modem electronic systems. Packaging substratesprovide a platform for mounting and interconnecting dice and otherelectronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors.Electrical interconnects connect together electronic components on andbetween dice and packaging substrates.

Electrical interconnects are a significant information transmissionbottleneck in modern communication and computation systems. Informationencoded in electronic signals is transmitted between electroniccomponents over electrical interconnects in modern communication andcomputation systems. Electrical interconnects are often unable totransfer information at the high data rates that modern systems require.One reason for this is that electrical interconnects are oftenfabricated from conductive materials, such as metals, which have severalinherent electrical limitations. First, electrical interconnects aresusceptible to noise pick-up from neighboring conductors. Second,electrical interconnects have a finite resistance which when coupled toparasitic capacitances limits the speed at which information can betransmitted on the interconnects.

For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of an interconnectaccording to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the interconnect shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is magnified view of a section of the anisotropic film of theinterconnect shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D shows a section of the anisotropic film of the interconnectshown in FIG. 1C after compression;

FIG. 1E is a exploded view of one embodiment of an interconnect locatedbetween a first substrate and a second substrate according to theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of the interconnect located betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate of FIG. 1E taken along theline A—A; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of fabricating aninterconnect according to the teachings of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichare shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of the inventionwhich may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describesubstantially similar components throughout the several views. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilizedand structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The followingdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and thescope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims,along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims areentitled.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of an interconnect 100according to the teachings of the present invention. The interconnect100 includes an anisotropic conductive film 102 and opticallytransmissive units 104-106 embedded in the anisotropic conductive film102.

FIG. 1B is a side-view of the interconnect 100 shown in FIG. 1A. Theside-view is taken at surface 109 of the interconnect 100 shown in FIG.1A. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, each of the optically transmissive units104-106 provides an optically transmissive path through the anisotropicconductive film 102. Thus, each of the optically transmissive units104-106 provides a path for coupling optical signals from the firstsurface 108 of the interconnect 100 to the second surface 110 of theinterconnect 100 and from the second surface 110 of the interconnect 100to the first surface 108 of the interconnect 100.

The interconnect 100, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B,includes three optically transmissive units 104-106. However, theinterconnect 100 is not limited to use in connection with threeoptically transmissive units. The interconnect 100 can be fabricatedwith as many or as few optically transmissive units as a particularapplication requires. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, theinterconnect 100 has a first surface 108 that is substantiallyrectangular. However, the first surface 108 of the interconnect 100 isnot limited to a substantially rectangular shape. The first surface 108can be formed to any shape that a particular application requires.

Optically transmissive units 104 and 106, in one embodiment as shown inFIG. 1A, have a substantially cylindrical shape. Optically transmissiveunit 105, in one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1A, has a substantiallyrectangular shape. However, the optically transmissive units 104-106 arenot limited to a particular shape. Any shape that is capable oftransmitting optical energy is suitable for use in the fabrication ofoptically transmissive units 104-106. Thus, the optically transmissiveunits 104-106 can be shaped to efficiently transmit electromagneticradiation from a variety of sources, including die mounted (not shown)lasers, such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, laser diodes,and diodes, and externally mounted (not shown) lasers, laser diodes, anddiodes.

Optically transmissive units 104-106 are not limited to being fabricatedusing a particular material. In one embodiment, optically transmissiveunits 104-106 comprise free space. In an alternative embodiment,optically transmissive units 104-106 are fabricated from an opticalpolymer. Exemplary optical polymers suitable for use in connection withthe fabrication of optically transmissive units 104-106 include acrylicacrylates, polycarbonates, or polyacrylates. Preferably, the opticalpolymers selected for the fabrication of the optically transmissiveunits 104-106 are curable using ultraviolet radiation.

The optically transmissive units 104-106 can function as optical vias inmodem electronic systems. A via is an interconnection for couplingtogether components in electronic systems. A via can couple togethercomponents on a single substrate or components on multiple substrates.Vias in modern electronic systems are generally conductive elements.However, optically transmissive units 104-106 can also function as viasto couple optical signals between components in an electronic system.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of opticallytransmissive units 104-106 as vias in an electronic system can increasethe bandwidth of the system.

FIG. 1C is a magnified view of section 111 of the anisotropic conductivefilm 102 of the interconnect 100 shown in FIG. 1B. As can be seen inFIG. 1C, the section 111 of the anisotropic conductive film 102 includesa carrier 112 and one or more conductive particles 114 embedded in thecarrier 112. In one embodiment, the carrier 112 is a substantiallycompliant insulative material. Exemplary substantially compliantinsulative materials include epoxies and adhesives.

In one embodiment, each of the one or more conductive particles 114 isfabricated from a conductive material. Exemplary conductive materialssuitable for use in the fabrication of the one or more conductiveparticles 114 include metals and semiconductors. Exemplary metalssuitable for use in the fabrication of the one or more conductiveparticles 114 include nickel, aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and alloysof nickel, aluminum, copper, gold and silver. Exemplary semiconductorssuitable for use in the fabrication of the one or more conductiveparticles 114 include silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.

FIG. 1D shows the section 111 of the anisotropic conductive film of FIG.1C after compression. As can be seen in FIG. 1D, after compression ofthe anisotropic film 102 at a point of compression 116, a conductivepath 118 is formed between the point of compression 116 and the secondsurface 110 by a subset of the one or more conductive particles 114. Thedensity of the one or more conductive particles 114 in the carrier 112and the compliancy of the carrier 112 are selected such that, with thecarrier compressed as shown in FIG. 1D, a subset of the one or moreconductive particles 114 forms the conductive path 118 between the firstsurface 108 at the point of compression 116 and the second surface 110.The point of compression 116 is the location on the first surface 108 atwhich an electrical connection can be made to the conductive path 118.

FIG. 1E is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electronic package119 according to the teachings of the present invention. The electronicpackage 119 includes interconnect 100 located between a first substrate120 and a second substrate 122. In one embodiment, the first substrate120 comprises a die including electrical optical circuits (not shown),and the second substrate 122 comprises a carrier substrate includingelectrical and optical signal carrying paths (not shown). However, thefirst substrate 120 is not limited to a particular type of die, and thesecond substrate 122 is not limited to a particular type of carriersubstrate. Exemplary dice suitable for use in connection with thepresent invention include microprocessor, digital signal processor, orapplication specific integrated circuit dice. Exemplary substratessuitable for use in connection with the present invention includesingle-die ceramic carriers and multi-die ceramic carriers. After thefirst substrate 120, the second substrate 122, and the interconnect 100are assembled into the electronic package 119, the interconnect 100provides electrical and optical signal paths (not shown) fortransmitting electrical and optical signals between the first substrate120 and the second substrate 122 and between the second substrate 122and the first substrate 120.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that FIG. 1E shows only oneembodiment of the electronic package 119, and that the electronicpackage 119 is not limited to being fabricated using only two substratesas shown in FIG. 1E. Three or more substrates can be optically andelectrically coupled together using the teachings of the presentinvention. In one embodiment, a die substrate is electrically andoptically coupled to a ceramic substrate, and the ceramic substrate iselectrically and optically coupled to a motherboard substrate.

FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of the electronic package 119 shown inFIG. 1E taken along the line A—A. The electronic package 119 includesthe first substrate 120, the second substrate 122, and the interconnect100 located between the first substrate 120 and the second substrate122. The first substrate 120 includes optical paths 127-128, opticaltransmitter 130, optical receivers 132-133, terminals or die pads136-139, and conductive solder elements 141-144. The interconnect 100includes optically transmissive units 104-106, conductive paths 145-148,and anisotropic conductive film 102. The second substrate 122 includesoptical paths 150-153, reflectors 156-159, and electrically conductiveterminals or pads/lands 161-164. Each of the optical paths includes oneof the reflectors 156-159 for deflecting an optical beam.

As can be seen in FIG. 1F, the interconnect 100 is compressed atconductive solder elements 141-144 to form the electrically conductivepaths 145-148 between each of the conductive solder elements 141-144 onthe first substrate 120 and the electrically conductive terminals orpads/lands 161-164 on the second substrate 122. Thus, each of theelectrically conductive paths 145-148 provides a path for coupling anelectrical signal from the first substrate 120 to the second substrate122 and from the second substrate 122 to the first substrate 120. Also,as can be seen in FIG. 1F, the interconnect 100 provides optical pathsat optically transmissive units 104-106 for coupling optical signalsbetween the first substrate 120 and the second substrate 122. Thesources of optical signals 166-168 are not shown in FIG. 1F, howeverthose skilled in the art will appreciate that exemplary sources ofoptical signals 166-168 include but are not limited to lasers, verticalcavity surface emitting lasers, diodes, and laser diodes. Those skilledin the art will also appreciate that optical signals can be coupled tooptical input ports 170-172.

In operation, the second substrate 122 receives the optical signals166-168 at optical input ports 170-172, respectively, and the firstsubstrate 120 transmits optical signal 174 from optical transmitter 130to optical output port 176 on the second substrate 122. In addition,electrical signals, such as digital or analog signals, are transmittedbetween the first substrate 120 and the second substrate 122. Theelectrical signals transmitted between the first substrate 120 and thesecond substrate 122 traverse paths that include the terminals or diepads 136-139, the conductive solder elements 141-144, the conductivepaths 145-148, and the terminals or pads/lands 161-164.

The optical signal 166, after arriving at the optical input port 170,travels along the optical path 151 to the reflector 157. At thereflector 157, the optical signal 166 is deflected into the opticallytransmissive unit 105. The optical signal 166 travels through theoptically transmissive unit 105 to the optical receiver 132 on the firstsubstrate 120. The optical receiver 132 receives and processes theoptical signal 166 or receives and converts the optical signal 166 to anelectrical signal for further processing.

The optical signal 167, after arriving at the optical input port 171,travels along the optical path 152 to the reflector 158. At thereflector 158 the optical signal 167 is deflected into the opticallytransmissive unit 105. The optical signal 167 travels through opticallytransmissive unit 105 to the optical path 128 on the first substrate120. The optical signal 167 travels along optical path 128 to theoptical receiver 132 on the first substrate 120. The optical receiver132 receives and processes the optical signal 167 or receives andconverts the optical signal 167 to an electrical signal for furtherprocessing. The optical receiver 132, in one embodiment, comprises asingle optical receiver. In an alternative embodiment, the opticalreceiver 132 comprises a plurality of optical receivers.

Thus, optical signals 166 and 167 are both transmitted through theoptically transmissive unit 105. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that each of the optically transmissive units 104-106 canroute a plurality of optical signals between the first substrate 120 andthe second substrate 122.

The optical signal 168, after arriving at the optical input port 172,travels along the optical path 153 to the reflector 159. At thereflector 159 the optical signal 168 is deflected into the opticallytransmissive unit 106. The optical signal 168 travels through theoptically transmissive unit 106 to the optical receiver 133 on the firstsubstrate 120. The optical receiver 133 receives the optical signal 168and processes the optical signal 168 or converts optical signal 168 toan electrical signal for further processing. The optical receiver 133,in one embodiment, comprises a single optical receiver. In analternative embodiment, the optical receiver 133 comprises a pluralityof optical receivers.

The optical transmitter 130 generates an optical signal 174 on the firstsubstrate 120. The optical signal 174 travels along the optical path 127to the optically transmissive unit 104. The optical signal 174 travelsthrough the optically transmissive unit 104 and to the optical path 150on the second substrate 122. The optical signal 174 travels along theoptical path 150 to the reflector 156 and is deflected along the opticalpath 150 to the optical output port 176.

Thus, the interconnect 100 provides an interconnect that permitstransmission of optical and electrical signals from the first substrate120 to the second substrate 122 and from the second substrate 122 to thefirst substrate 120.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the optical signalspassing through the optically transmissive units 104-106 aresubstantially immune from electrical interference, such as cross-talkfrom electrical signals passing through the conductive paths 145-148. Inaddition, the optical signals passing through the optically transmissiveunits 104-106 do not interfere with the electrical signals beingtransmitted through the electrically conductive paths 145-148. In oneembodiment, the signal passing through the at least one of the opticallytransmissive units 104-106 is a clock signal.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that optical signalspassing through the optically transmissive units 104-106 are immune fromparasitic capacitances, which allows signals to be transmitted throughthe optically transmissive units 104-106 at higher frequencies thansignals transmitted on the electrically conductive paths 145-148.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method 200 offabricating an interconnect according to the teachings of the presentinvention. Method 200 includes forming one or more holes in a conductivefilm on a carrier substrate (block 201), filling at least one of the oneor more holes with a material capable of transmitting an optical signal(block 203), and laminating the conductive film on a packaging substrate(block 205). In an alternative embodiment, forming one or more holes inthe conductive film comprises patterning the conductive film to form apatterned conductive film and etching the one or more holes in thepatterned conductive film. In another alternative embodiment, filling atleast one of the one or more holes with a material capable oftransmitting an optical signal comprises filling at least one of the oneor more holes with an optical polymer.

Although specific embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, having thebenefit of the present disclosure, that any arrangement which isintended to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for a specificembodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptationsor variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended thatthis invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalentsthereof.

1. An interconnect comprising: an anisotropic conductive film; and an optically transmissive unit embedded in the anisotropic conductive film, the optically transmissive unit providing an optically transmissive path through the anisotropic conductive film.
 2. The interconnect of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conductive film comprises an adhesive, anisotropic conductive film.
 3. The interconnect of claim 2, wherein the adhesive, anisotropic conductive film comprises an epoxy and a plurality of conductive particles embedded in the epoxy.
 4. The interconnect of claim 3, wherein the optically transmissive unit optically couples each of a plurality of optical transmitters to one or more optical receivers.
 5. The interconnect of claim 1, wherein the optically transmissive unit optically couples each of a plurality of optical transmitters to one or more optical receivers.
 6. The interconnect of claim 5, wherein the optically transmissive unit has a transmission area that is substantially rectangular.
 7. The interconnect of claim 5, wherein the anisotropic conductive film comprises an adhesive, anisotropic conductive film.
 8. The interconnect of claim 1, wherein the optically transmissive unit comprises an optical polymer.
 9. The interconnect of claim 8, wherein the optical polymer comprises an acrylic acrylate.
 10. The interconnect of claim 9, wherein the optically transmissive unit comprises a substantially cylindrical optically transmissive material. 